What Is G.I.S.?

G.I.S. means Geographical Information Systems. These are databases which allow the user to capture, display, analyze and display special relationships. G.I.S. uses digitized current and historical data to produce mapping systems. Each layer of the map quantifies composite information such as census or land use data. This allows G.I.S. to become a tool to view very complex and overlapping information to get a “big picture” of the cumulative effects of planning decisions, growth management, and use of land. Common

G.I.S. databases allows designers, developers and government agencies to develop concurrent integrated models through mapping. These maps can be static or in real time. The data can be view in three dimensions. A G.I.S. database also has geospatial referencing which enables the user to become a “doer” by querying the database. By asking questions of the database, the user can build their own information systems with specific attributes and feature that satisfy the query.

G.I.S. is a very powerful tool which will have major impact on  society. Combined with other technologies such as tracking devices, cameras or global positioning systems, G.I.S. will have global consequences which I hope will be used to better the human condition.

Currently G.I.S. is being employed by citizen councils all over the United States to create balanced and equitable congressional redistricting.

For more information visit: http://www.esri.com/redistricting